Stock Market Watch

Futures Rise Ahead of GDP Data

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Stock index futures are pointing to a higher opening for the U.S. equity market as investors await the release of some key economic data, including a report on fourth-quarter GDP.

Ahead of the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are trading 16 points higher at 12,700, the S&P 500 futures are trading 1 point at 1,316, and the Nasdaq 100 futures are trading 6 points higher at 2,459.


All three major indexes had ended in red on Thursday as weak housing market data overshadowed some strong earnings reports. Stocks also slipped on Thursday as the initial optimism over the Federal Reserve’s pledge to keep interest rates low until late 2014 also faded away.

All eyes are now set on the latest economic data, which would investors a clear picture of the U.S. economy. First up, the Commerce Department will release the GDP data for the fourth quarter of 2011. Economists expect fourth-quarter GDP to come in at 3.1%. Later in the day, investors will get a final reading on the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index for the month of January. Economists expect the index to remain unchanged at 74.

European markets are mixed in trading today, with the FTSE 100 Index in London currently trading 0.38% lower and the DAX Index in Frankfurt currently trading 0.05% higher. Asian markets ended on a mixed note overnight.

On the corporate front, Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) will remain in focus in trading today after the company’s outlook for fiscal 2012 fell short of expectations.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) shares will also remain in focus in trading today after the automaker reported its fourth-quarter financial results. Ford’s fourth-quarter profit missed estimates, sending shares lower in pre-market trading today.

Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR) also announced its quarterly results, positing weaker than expected earnings.

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edliston
Post Written By: Ed Liston

Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing in his yacht.


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Ed Liston

Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing.

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